By Caroline Washaya Moyo
Manyame Rural District Council has strengthened its commitment to improving education infrastructure and local service delivery following the commissioning of two schools and the handover of five pieces of heavy road construction equipment, marking a significant investment in community development and infrastructure expansion in Seke District.
The projects, commissioned by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, are part of broader efforts to improve access to essential public services, strengthen local authority capacity and accelerate infrastructure development in line with the Government’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
The commissioning saw the official opening of classroom blocks and supporting infrastructure at Gilston Primary School and Dunottar Primary School, alongside the handover of five pieces of road construction equipment to Manyame Rural District Council.
At Gilston Primary School, council constructed three classroom blocks at a total cost of US$100,000 to accommodate the growing enrolment, which stood at 730 learners in 2026.
The project was financed through multiple sources, including devolution funding under the Special Infrastructure Grant (SIG), council’s own revenue, School Development Committee resources, project levies, centre fees and income-generating activities.
At Dunottar Primary School, the council invested US$115,792.70 in the construction of a twin classroom block, an ablution block and a computer laboratory, benefiting communities in Dunottar and Nyatsime.
The project was implemented through a collaborative arrangement between the community and council, with the local authority providing construction materials, labour costs, painting, electrification, furniture and computers.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Garwe commended the partnership between council and communities, noting that the projects demonstrated the importance of collective responsibility in advancing development.
He emphasised that the initiatives were community-driven, with council complementing local efforts, describing the approach as a reflection of the whole-of-government and whole-of-community development model.
The Minister also congratulated Manyame RDC for securing third place in the local authority performance appraisals, challenging the council’s leadership and management to work towards attaining the top position through improved service delivery.
Beyond education infrastructure, Manyame RDC has procured five pieces of heavy equipment comprising two tipper trucks, one motorised grader, one excavator and one backhoe loader.
The equipment is expected to significantly strengthen the council’s capacity to undertake road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance across the district.
Minister Garwe urged the local authority to immediately deploy the machinery towards addressing road infrastructure needs, highlighting the importance of accessible and well-maintained roads in facilitating mobility, trade and other economic activities.
He said road maintenance remained a key component of the Minimum Service Delivery Standards (MSDS) and NDS2, noting that improved connectivity directly contributes to the growth of local economies.
The Minister further challenged local authorities to strengthen revenue collection strategies and financial management to ensure they meet their service delivery obligations.
He said the attainment of Minimum Service Delivery Standards required commitment, adequate resources and a focus on both the quality and quantity of services provided to communities.
On community participation, Minister Garwe underscored the importance of citizen engagement, dialogue and consensus-building between local authorities and residents.
He said initiatives such as the Citizen Scorecard should be used to strengthen communication, accountability and mutual understanding between councils and the communities they serve.
The Minister also called on Manyame RDC to expand the development of modern markets across the district, urging the council to establish at least one market in every ward.
While acknowledging the construction of Guzha Market as a modern model facility, he said similar infrastructure should be extended to other communities, with adequate water supplies, sanitation facilities and security.
He stressed that rural communities should also benefit from properly planned market infrastructure, adding that the provision of designated trading spaces was essential in addressing informal vending in undesignated areas.
Minister Garwe also reminded residents of their responsibility to pay rates, development levies and other council charges, saying revenue mobilisation was critical for sustaining public services and infrastructure development.
He called for compliance with planning regulations and warned against illegal settlements, urging residents and traditional leaders to uphold the law and support orderly settlement development.
The commissioning of the schools and road equipment highlights the role of decentralised development, community participation and local authority investment in improving livelihoods.
As Zimbabwe pursues its NDS2 development targets, investments in education facilities, road infrastructure and organised trading spaces remain important building blocks for inclusive economic growth.
The developments in Manyame demonstrate how partnerships between Government, local authorities and communities can translate national development priorities into tangible improvements at grassroots level.
